It has been a few weeks since we released the Arkansas map expansion for American Truck Simulator and as always, it is time for us to take a deep dive into the feedback our community has provided us with. You have been flooding us with both screenshots and videos from this new DLC and we really appreciate both the positive reactions and constructive criticism. So let's take a look at what our #BestCommunityEver had to say about Arkansas.
Make sure to keep the content from Arkansas coming as we really love to watch your videos and photos or read the messages and feedback that you are sending us. The best way for it to reach us is by tagging us on our X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, or sharing your impressions on our official SCS Forum! We would like to express our thanks to everyone who took the time to create and share some Arkansas DLC content so far and to all those who will do that from now on.
We have also received plenty of positive feedback via the review on Arkansas' Steam page. These nice comments really make our day and push us to keep working hard in delivering our community exciting new content that they enjoy.
If you want to, you can still write a review for Arkansas DLC on the Steam page. We would really appreciate it! You can find the review section if you scroll to the bottom of the Arkansas Steam page.
We also managed to reach some of the content creators who often make content from our games. They sent us their opinions on the Arkansas DLC and some of those made us really happy! You can look at them below. Don't forget to drop by their channel and give them a follow to support their work.
MESETNEOMAN® [Black]
"Arkansas is a legendary region that I have been seriously waiting for a long time. After the unique details of Texas, the announcement of Arkansas made me ecstatic. The first thing I did after receiving the early access was to buy a brand-new Mack Pinnacle. Watching the rivers and hearing the sounds of nature in the rough parts of Arkansas with the Pinnacle took me to more than just the game, I felt it. Finally, Little Rock and other cities really fascinated me with their details. Whether it was the intricate city details or the fascinating adventure of nature, Arkansas offered me more than just a map DLC. SCS Software has given us endless pleasure with this unique early access and subsequent detailed presentations. I would like to extend my eternal respect to the community officials and then to all the other team members. Don't miss this unique experience..." - MESETNEOMAN® [Black] & Murat Arda Güldiken.
meLadyBear
"The Arkansas DLC is taking us further East! This expansion allows us to drive our rigs across the map of the beautiful state of Arkansas. We now have 10 more amazing cities to haul to and from including Little Rock and Hot Springs. Many amazing landmarks as well, don't forget to check out the Arlington Hotel! But that’s not all, as with each new DLC, Arkansas DLC brings us new challenges and missions that will keep us hooked for hours. Arkansas is a state of stunning natural beauty, with beautiful rolling hills, dense forests, and the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers! The scenery is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. From the driver's seat, we can view the gorgeous mountain ranges," - meLadyBear.
Duude
"Wow, what can I say about the Arkansas DLC! What an amazing addition to American Truck Simulator. This DLC offers over 10 epic cities to explore and many hours to enjoy cruising around. Yet again SCS Software has smashed it with another brilliant DLC with great detail, great scenery, and epic roads to explore. I have certainly enjoyed cruising around Arkansas and the impressive scenery. I thank SCS Software for the work that they have done with the Arkansas DLC. I wonder what they have installed in the future," - Duude.
Nightmare_se
"Welcome to Arkansas y'all! In this DLC you can tell that we are getting into the Eastern United States as the landscape transitions from arid landscapes and grassy plains over to small mountain ranges, forestry, and fertile lowland. All of which SCS has managed to capture in great detail. The cities represented are a good variation ranging from the most populated city of Little Rock all the way down to very small communities you drive through between the map represented cities. With new DLCs come new features and industries. I and my community thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic loading and unloading of logs at the new logging sites. Hot Springs is the must-see city of this DLC for me. With this DLC comes another section of Interstate 40 which was the Interstate I traveled most as an over-the-road driver, bringing back memories and bringing me one step closer to being able to recreate those east-to-west long hauls I enjoyed so much. Hope to see y'all in Arkansas," - Nightmare_se.
We are excited to have you hit the roads of Arkansas! Keep sharing your adventures with us by using #CruisingArkansas on social media. Stay tuned for more updates by following our social media channels (X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok). We'll see you on the road!
Last year, a few members of our American Truck Simulator map team travelled to the USA to gather information and references for our upcoming Iowa DLC. In this blog post, we'll offer you a peek into the team's exciting adventures as they ventured through the state, and what they experienced whilst there!
We spoke with Saimon, the DLC Lead more about this trip. "In the summer of 2023, we embarked on a Research Trip that took us across the states of Nebraska and Iowa." Saimon tells us "we combined these two destinations because the same team members who worked on the Nebraska DLC were also responsible for the development of Iowa. This makes perfect sense since both states are geographically connected, share a similar culture and environment, and are close to each other in many ways."
"Our map designers involved in this trip were Petra (Draky), Antonín (Tony), Jan (Vacky), and Saimon. Over five days, they travelled approximately 1,000 miles, visiting various large and small towns, driving on highways and back roads, and exploring different landmarks and logistical areas."
"Our goal was to thoroughly understand how the state looks and functions. We were interested in what might catch our attention and surprise us, as well as what differences we could find compared to neighbouring states that we would want to portray authentically. Let's take a look at some of these interesting discoveries together."
Saimon goes on to explain "The first thing that caught our attention when traveling from Nebraska to Iowa were the expansive hills with terraced fields, picturesque farms with round silos, and countless wind turbines on the horizon. The way the highway rise and fell with the terrain, and wildflowers bloomed on the side of the road. Later, we learnt that the state of Iowa takes special care to protect native flowers and grasses as part of its environmental program."
"As we travelled through Iowa, its nickname "The Corn State" was fully on display. Cornfields alternated with soybeans, and vast plains and terraced fields stretched out in every direction. Agriculture plays a crucial role here, evident not only from the endless fields but also from the abundance of farming equipment, dealers, and agricultural machinery factories we encountered at every turn."
"When we arrived from the vast meadows and plains into the towns, we were pleasantly surprised by their charm and rich culture. Many of these towns are situated along rivers, giving us the opportunity to admire majestic bridges, charming harbors, and interesting landmarks. We were struck by how varied the towns are, with historic buildings often adorned with red brick facades. At night, some of these structures are beautifully illuminated, and combined with the water features, they create truly breathtaking scenes."
"The vast logistics parks and industrial areas reminded us of the key role industry plays in Iowa and were a great source of inspiration for us. We also had the opportunity to visit a variety of trucks stop, both large and small! These stops not only provided our team with a break, but also a source of inspiration when it comes to trucking culture in America."
"The entire trip proved to be extremely beneficial for our development team. By personally visiting and exploring the state of Iowa, we now have a much clearer idea of how to authentically capture its character in the game."
"We gained valuable insights that will allow us to convey the atmosphere of this region not only visually but also through gameplay mechanics and details that will immerse players in a world inspired by a real place. This experience provided us with the essential context that we could never fully grasp from maps and photos, and we're excited to bring this into our game."
We hope you've found this insight on the team's trip to Iowa interesting. Don't forget to follow us on our X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok so you won't miss out on news about the development of the Iowa DLC for American Truck Simulator. Until next time, keep on truckin'!
As always, a few weeks after a DLC release, it is time to announce the next state we are heading to. Today is not the day yet but we have just a little teaser for you which may help you guess our next journey in American Truck Simulator.
While we would love to share more about this project, its early stages of development mean we are unable to even provide an estimate of when this state may be on the horizon for truckers. If you couldn't guess from the first screenshot, maybe this short video will help you.
Got an idea now? Well, let us know in the comments below where you think our steps will lead to next in American Truck Simulator. Still no clue? Well, there are a few more screenshots you can take a look at and guess.
When the time is right, we look forward to sharing more news on what you can expect when traveling to this part of the US. So make sure to follow this blog and our X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Until then, keep on truckin'!
Missouri - New Assets to Build the World With
We have another preview of the Missouri map expansion for our #BestCommunityEver! This time, we would like to show you some of the new models our asset makers are working on which you will find scattered across the map in this upcoming DLC. You will also read about how they prepare the models from scratch for their final design.
Keep in mind that these models showcased here are not the only new assets we have been working on, and that this DLC is still a work in progress. Among many other models, we are proud to show you these beauties inspired by the real-world locations in various parts of Missouri such as the Jefferson Performing Arts Center, the Joplin church, the statue in Kirksville, St. Joseph's water building or the pedestrian bridge in Rolla. But that's not all, in total, we have put together over 350 new models just for this map expansion!
Are you interested to know how these models are put together? Our talented asset makers work on them in Autodesk Maya from the first draft to the final design. As you can see in the first image below, first they put together a basic model with no details and textures, serving as a placeholder for more adjustments.
Once they have that done, they proceed to modify the geometry and add details. In this step, it is important to have an overview of the model structure, which allows them to modify the shape and detailed elements. In the image below, you can see the model in Shade mode without textures, with the wireframe view added. This shows how the model is structured and how the different parts of the model relate to each other.
The last step is to apply the textures and make final adjustments. Now, you can see the final look of the model, ready to be used in a variety of applications. On the very first picture of this blog, you can also see this model's final look in the game.
We hope you are looking forward to trucking in the Missouri DLC. If you do, make sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist! And don't forget to follow us on our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, so you won't miss out on any American Truck Simulator news. Until next time, happy travels!
Earlier this year, we announced that we have teamed up with Western Star Trucks for the Star Nation Experience 2024 in this blog. Along with us, Western Star Trucks, and members of the Star Nation community, two lucky American Truck Simulator players had the chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Bend, Oregon, and take part in this unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Unfortunately, the original date for the Star Nation Experience 2024 had to be cancelled due to the wildfires spreading in the area. As a result, Western Star, in cooperation with local authorities, firefighters, and sheriffs, made the decision to postpone the event to ensure everyone's safety. The new date has now been announced: the event will take place from September 27 to September 30! And today, we are excited to introduce the two participants from our ATS community, so let's meet them.
But first, we shall remind you of what this amazing event is all about. In the heart of Oregon's untamed wilderness, Western Star Trucks hosted the first Star Nation Experience last year for eight lucky winners of their raffle, marking the first of its kind in the trucking industry.
It is a wild, adrenaline-fueled experience filled with trucking, fly fishing, ATV fun, and more adventures celebrating everything that makes Western Star and the Star Nation community special. The highlight of the event is undoubtedly the behind-the-scenes tour of Daimler's High Desert Proving Grounds in Madras, where they took on the ultimate driver challenge last year, pushing Western Star X-Series trucks to their limits. And this year will be no different.
As we already mentioned above, for the Star Nation Experience 2024, Western Star has invited us to participate but also dedicated two slots of the team of eight lucky winners to members of our American Truck Simulator community. Our friends at Western Star received plenty of applications and a few weeks ago, they selected the winners. We are very excited to meet with all of them, especially with the two from our community - Connor and Brendan.
Brendan
Brendan's passion for trucking traces all the way back to his childhood. "I’ve been obsessed ever since I was a kid. I would always play with toy trucks and pull wagons around in my yard," he says. This early fascination grew into a full-blown obsession with trucks, leading him to discover the world of ATS and a career as a driver.
Since 2019, Brendan has been an avid player, drawn to the game's meticulous detail and immersive environments, which realistically replicated real trucking experiences. In ATS, Brendan's vehicle of choice is the Western Star 4900EX, inspired by his fond memories of riding in his father's truck as a child. Captivated by its iconic design and reliability, Brendan enthusiastically recreated his favorite truck in-game, using mods to enhance his virtual trucking adventures.
Outside of ATS, Brendan's dedication to trucking extends into his professional life, where he spends most of his time on the road, logging miles as a professional truck driver.
Connor
Connor’s passion for ATS began with the original Euro Truck Simulator when he was just 12 years old. "There was something about the open road and the sounds of the truck engine that always pulled me into playing more," Connor recalled.
In the virtual realm of ATS, Connor drives his favorite truck, the Western Star 57X, relishing its smooth rides and long-haul comfort. The truck's iconic logo holds a special place in Conor’s heart; it resonates with him - something he identifies with. Beyond gaming, Connor values ATS for its ability to offer a temporary escape from the humdrum of everyday life as well as the opportunity for him to immerse himself in the role of an owner-operator, participating in virtual convoys and engaging with a community of fellow trucking enthusiasts.
We would like to thank Western Star Truck for this wonderful opportunity to be a part of this adventure along with the members of our American Truck Simulator community. Keep a close eye on Western Star's Facebook and Instagram, and our X/Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook so you don't miss out on any news from the Star Nation Experience 2024 which Nemiro and Mark will also attend. Get ready to embark on this unforgettable adventure with us!
We are excited to share with you that a new game module for both Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator will be introduced with the 1.52 update - Driving Academy. This free update will include sets of scenarios which we hope will teach our players a thing or two about driving and maneuvering a truck in a fun and captivating way.
We are venturing into new territory, inspired by years of feedback from players who have told us that our games have helped them grasp the basics of truck driving. Many have used it to get a sense of handling a truck and trailer, learning how to maneuver and reverse. With this in mind, we thought we'd take it a step further by introducing a series of challenges specifically designed to improve and expand these skills.
Driving Academy will help players learn to drive a truck, from basic driving to navigating intricate courses and complex parking maneuvers with a detailed explanation via driving instructions including diagrams, pointers, and directions. This new game module will provide you with various scenarios of increasing difficulty inspired by instructions given to real-life students. We also wanted to enable drivers to analyze their drive so we have also implemented a new replay feature into this game module as well.
As we mentioned above, we are testing the waters with Driving Academy, but if we get positive feedback from our community, we would love to continue creating additional scenarios and special challenges in the future that real-life truck drivers may encounter on the road. Our dream is for this game module to offer a deeper understanding of both truck driving and the underlying systems, as well as when to use them. But that is still a long way to go.
We also plan to explore this new game module in our live streams, create a special explanatory video, and the topic may also be explored in an Under the Hood blog post, explaining our thought process and production challenges. So you will want to be on the lookout on our channels so you do not miss out on this exclusive content that will also take you behind the scenes - follow us on our X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch.
We hope you will appreciate this new feature, enjoy it when it is released and maybe even learn something new about trucking. Until then, happy travels!
Today is the day, engines at the ready! The Arkansas DLC for American Truck Simulator releases today and we can't wait for you to get haulin'. Are you ready to explore the Natural State and all that it has to offer? Let's get cruising!
The Arkansas DLC has been released and is now available on Steam!
We cannot wait for you to embark on your first journey into Arkansas. Our team has been working hard to ensure everything is running smoothly for its release. From bug smashing to putting in additional polish on the map, we're ready for you to explore and deliver across the State!
Take your time and enjoy every moment as you discover:
10 explorable cities including Little Rock, Fortsmith, Fayetteville and Pine Bluff.
See several landmarks unique to Arkansas such as the historical centre of Hot Springs with its Bathhouse Row and National Park, iconic art murals, the majestic Arlington Hotel, courthouses, churches and more.
Enjoy trucking through 10 scenic towns (settlements)
Discover a variety of different viewpoints across Arkansas
See the famous Arkansas and Mississippi rivers which run through the State.
Drive across the impressively large Emmitt Sanders Lock and Dam, which has been in operation since December 1968!
Deliver to unique industries such as the Nuclear One power plant, and custom built River Port & Timber Harvest depots.
Experience the new dynamic loading and unloading of logs onto your trailer.
Discover the hidden treasures of Arkansas's countryside, forest, swampland, viewpoints, road network and more.
From cities large and small, Arkansas has something new to explore around every corner. From art murals, to swampland and the custom-made farms, grain elevators, river ports and timber harvest depots, there is something for everyone to discover and enjoy.
Forest Machinery DLC Update
We are also happy to share that the Forest Machinery DLC will be receiving a free update with the release of Arkansas. With its many forestry and logging related industries, these companies often require lots of heavy duty equipment and vehicles, one of which we are excited to bring as a new cargo in this DLC!
Introducing the Forestry Skidder, a specialized machine used in logging operations to transport felled trees from the cutting site to a central location for processing or loading. It typically drags logs across the forest floor, either using a cable system or a grapple claw to secure the logs. Skidders are essential for efficiently moving timber, especially in rough or uneven terrain, and help streamline the process of harvesting trees in large-scale logging operations.
That's not all however, as owners of this DLC will also be able to enjoy some cabin accessories from our in-game brand 'OWL' for their truck cab! Including protective Ear Muffs, a mug and a road-sign themed hanging cabin item! We hope DLC owners enjoy hauling this heavy duty machine across Arkansas and beyond with this free update.
Arkan-saw Bundle
If both the Arkansas DLC and the new Forest Machinery content takes your interest, consider purchasing our newest Arkan-saw bundle (get it?) which includes both the Arkansas DLC and the Forest Machinery DLC at a discounted price! It is the perfect bundle for truckers looking to get the fullest experience out of the Natural State.
This bundle operates on a "Complete the set" basis, ensuring you only pay for the DLCs that are not already in your library. Happy travels!
Release Live Stream!
Can't wait to get trucking? Join Mark & Petr for the Arkansas DLC Release Live Stream! Also featured are special guests involved in the development of this new expansion. Don't miss out, tune in at our official Twitch or YouTube channels today from 4:00 PM CEST onwards.
Cruising Arkansas Event
Excited to get driving? Don't forget, you can also join in on the #CruisingArkansas World of Trucks event, where you can earn unique in-game Arkansas themed rewards! We are asking you, our #BestCommunityEver to help contribute and complete the community goal of driving 125,000,000 miles (201,168,000 km) while delivering cargo to or from any city in Arkansas.
Players who achieve their personal goal of delivering to or from 10 Arkansas cities will receive a lovely White-tailed Watch ATS truck paint job. If the community goal is reached, all players who have completed their personal goal will also receive a hanging Diamond Apple Blossom pendant for their cabin!
But that's not all! We also have another unique gift for you. If you take any External Contract or External Market job TO or FROM the city of Pine Bluff, you'll earn this adorable fluffy White-tailed Deer fawn plush for their truck cabin. We think it makes for the perfect mascot whilst trucking through the Natural state!
If you'd like to learn more about this event, check out the dedicated blog here.
We hope you enjoy cruising and discovering Arkansas! We cannot thank you enough for all your support leading upto to the release of this DLC. Our team would love to hear what you think of Arkansas, if you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a review on Steam! Until next time, keep on truckin'!
Please join us on Monday, the 16th of September, as we celebrate the release of our new Arkansas DLC, by taking part in our World of Trucks event – Cruising Arkansas! Enjoy the scenic beauty, wildlife, and incredible history of the Natural State while contributing to its impressive economy of agriculture, forestry and transport logistics.
We challenge our #BestCommunityEver to achieve the community goal of driving 125,000,000 miles (201,168,000 km) while delivering cargo to or from any city in Arkansas.
While you are #CruisingArkansas enjoying the beautiful locations it has to offer, you’ll also have the chance to discover some hidden gems found only on unmarked roads that are not visible on the map. There are also stunning water bodies to visit such as Lake Chicot, Lake Dardanelle, and Norfork Lake, not to mention the Arkansas, Mississippi, and White Rivers. The Natural State is also the home of the white-tailed deer, and northern mockingbird, and boasts the beautiful apple blossom as its state flower since in 1901 it was one of the largest apple producers in the United States.
As you participate in the Natural state’s economy, you’ll be able to help out in some of its main industries such as forestry, agriculture and logistics, with a new river port and airport hub to visit and a new sawmill, paper and steel mills deliver to.
And, during your travels, you can look forward to many spectacular views and highlights such as:
Pine Bluff Lock & Dam 4, impressive Arkansas River lock and dam engineering
Hot Springs, a beautiful resort city, famous for its naturally heated springs and bath houses
Arkansas Nuclear One, a nuclear power plant located on Lake Dardanelle
Fort Smith, a historic city established as a western frontier military post in 1817
As with past cruising events, you can use your own trailer and experience all these in the external market!
Arkansas DLC has 10 terrific new cities to explore, and we're offering a special reward for completing your personal goal, which will require you to deliver a job to or from all of them. All jobs for the event need to be 100 miles each (161 km) or more.
Come along with us and haul through incredible landscapes of mountains, forests, hot springs and lakes. Let's cruise Arkansas and enjoy the ride, it will be an awesome one!
Rules
Using External Contracts or External Market, with a World of Trucks-connected profile in American Truck Simulator, the community goal is to drive 125,000,000 miles (201,168,000 km) while delivering cargo to or from any city in Arkansas.
When a player completes a delivery to or from 10 different Arkansas cities, they will achieve their personal goal. Note that the in-game city of Texarkana spans both the Arkansas and Texas DLCs. Only jobs to or from the Arkansas portion of the city, shown as 'Texarkana (AR)' on the External Contracts job screen, count towards this event.
All jobs for the event need to be at least 100 miles each (161 km), or more.
You can check if your recent deliveries met these conditions using your Log Book in your World of Trucks profile.
Rewards
Personal: Players that deliver cargo to or from 10 Arkansas cities will gain a personal World of Trucks Achievement and a White-tailed Watch ATS truck paint job Steam inventory item.
Community: When the community goal of driving 125,000,000 miles (201,168,000 km) during deliveries to or from any city in Arkansas is met, and if the player has also achieved their personal goal, then they will receive a hanging Diamond Apple Blossom pendant Steam inventory item.
The event will be concluded on Sunday, 17th of November at 23:59 UTC.
We look forward to hearing from you about where you went and what you discovered, we're positive you'll love cruising the beautiful Natural state! So, please share your screenshots and videos with us using the hashtag #CruisingNebraska on our Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram profiles and we will share our favourite ones (we may even feature some of them in a future blog post!).
We're thrilled to announce the arrival of the legendary Mack® Pinnacle in American Truck Simulator, which is now available to purchase and drive in-game. However, that's not all—we're also excited to introduce the Limited Edition Mack Black Anthem® too!
Ready to get trucking? Let's take a closer look at these new additions!
Mack Pinnacle
The Mack Pinnacle™ combines power and reliability with modern technology and a classic design. The result is a legendary workhorse, ready to take on any job while making every drop of fuel count. The Pinnacle’s lightweight-yet-strong frame is built for heavy loads, steep grades and long hauls, making it the perfect choice for your next journey in American Truck Simulator.
The Pinnacle's virtual implementation includes an array of configurations options including 3 cabin variants (Day Cab, 48-inch Flat Top Sleeper and 70-inch StandUp Sleeper), several chassis and length options (6x2, 6x2 Liftable Pusher and 6x4), 3 engine options ranging from 415hp to 505hp, and a choice of numerous transmissions are available. New with the addition of the Pinnacle is the Mack mDrive™ HD transmission, equipped with crawler gears to help get any load moving. It's complimented by a low final drive ratio to keep engine RPMs low at highway speeds to help maximize efficiency.
You'll also find plenty of customization options including 4 cabin interiors, two grille variations (modern & classic), a variety of cabin accessories and more to tune up your Mack Pinnacle™ just the way you like it.
We know how much our American Truck Simulator community has been looking forward to this truck, and we hope you enjoy it! Share screenshots and videos with us from your first journey in the Mack Pinnacle with us and Mack Trucks on X/Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Mack Black Anthem
As part of the free 1.51 update for American Truck Simulator, we also released the Limited Edition Mack Black Anthem®, which sports a blacked-out exterior trim package and other additional interior features.
It looks business, and it means business! Whilst limited to only 500 made in the real world, The Mack Black Anthem® is available to purchase at your nearest in-game Mack Trucks dealer for all owners of American Truck Simulator. We hope you enjoy this awesome looking variant of an already legendary truck.
If you missed the 1.51 update blog, which includes more about this legendary truck and more, you can find it here.
A big thank you goes out to the team at Mack Trucks, for allowing us to bring both of these awesome-looking additions to American Truck Simulator, and for assisting our team in creating them. We hope you enjoy driving them across the States, and we look forward to seeing your screenshots and more on our social media channels. See you on the road!
The MACK trademarks and designs are registered rights of the AB Volvo Group and are used pursuant to a license.
American Truck Simulator 1.51 Update Release
We are happy to announce that the 1.51 update for American Truck Simulator has been released and is now available on Steam. This update contains bug fixes, changes and new content, which are featured below, so we recommend having a read!
We'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who participated, provided their feedback, and made bug reports during the Open Beta period. Your valuable input helped us make tweaks, changes and squash some bugs that we may have missed the first time around. We hope you can now begin to fully enjoy the fruits of your work.
New Title Screen
One of the first and most prominent changes you will encounter in this update is a complete redesign of our Title Screen. Whilst keeping in line with our recent user interface rework, we wanted a design which is easy to navigate and understand for all players.
First and foremost, one of the main difference you'll notice about the new Title Screen is the focus on a truck in the centre of the screen. On the left, you'll find the menu which allows easy access to the more important features of the game, such as Options, and other sub-menus such as the DLC (formerly DLC Browser) and the Mod Manager, which will display the number of MODs active next to it if you have any installed.
To access your Profile Manager, just simply click your profile widget located in the top right of the menu screen.
Functionally, we have also made navigation more comfortable with a gamepad or a steering wheel, requiring less time reaching for a keyboard from the moment you launch ETS2 or ATS. This design also leaves us space to make tweaks and changes where needed, as well as make additions in the future.
Mack Black Anthem
The Mack Anthem just got a whole lot cooler! Introducing the Limited Edition Mack Black Anthem® in American Truck Simulator, featuring a blacked-out exterior trim package and other additional interior features. In developing this special truck, designers started with a 70-inch StandUp sleeper model painted Mack Black and spec’d it up with Mack’s black exterior trim package. They then added a number of unique styling features, including a bold black Mack wordmark across the grille.
The cab steps and deck plates are also powder-coated in black, and flat black trim stripes are added to the air intakes on each side of the hood. Black mudflap brackets, black fuel tanks, black style aluminium wheels and a limited edition Anthem doorplate add to the distinctive look. Completing the exterior transformation of the Mack Black Anthem is a unique black Mack Bulldog ornament on the hood.
It looks business, and it means business! Whilst limited to only 500 made in the real world, The Mack Black Anthem® is available to purchase at your nearest in-game Mack Trucks dealer for all owners of American Truck Simulator. We hope you enjoy this awesome looking variant of an already legendary truck.
A big thank you goes out to the team at Mack Trucks, for allowing us to bring this awesome-looking addition to American Truck Simulator as part of the 1.51 update, and for assisting our team in creating it. We hope you enjoy driving The Mack Black Anthem® across the States, and we look forward to seeing your screenshots and more on our social media channels.
The MACK trademarks and designs are registered rights of the AB Volvo Group and are used pursuant to a license.
Dynamic Cargo (Un)Loading of Grain Hoppers & Chip vans
In the 1.50 update, we introduced a dynamic loading and unloading feature for Nebraska DLC's custom agriculture depots using a grain hopper trailer. Now, we are happy to reveal that in the 1.51 update for American Truck Simulator, we are going to add more animated loading options as well as depots where players will encounter this feature!
Truckers delivering with their own grain hopper trailer will experience dynamic loading and unloading when transporting corn, soybean, grain, sugar beet, pelleted animal food, potatoes, or cotton seed not only in Nebraska but also in custom depots found in the Kansas DLC, the upcoming Arkansas DLC, and in "prefab" depots across American Truck Simulator.
But that is not all! This upcoming update will also include a new dynamic loading option for the chip van when hauling wood shavings or cotton seeds. Currently, this dynamic feature is available only for cargo loading and will appear in Arkansas' custom depots as well as "prefab" depots across the USA. We plan to extend this functionality to include other types of cargo haulable with a chip van as well as dynamic unloading in the future.
You can read more about this feature in a blogpost we posted.
I-44 and more for Oklahoma DLC
The missing link along the I-44 has been frequently requested by our community, so we are glad to be able to bring this new content as part of the upcoming 1.51 update for ATS.
Currently in the Oklahoma DLC, the middle section of Interstate 44 through Oklahoma City is missing. However in the 1.51 update, we are happy to be able to bring this section in, connecting the western and eastern sections and completing I-44 in Oklahoma. This will of course come as a free update to all current owners of the Oklahoma DLC.
That is not all however, the I-44 will also include two new depots for players to deliver to and from; a furniture store and a construction site. Along with this addition, players will also be treated to 2 new truck stops on the I-40. If you'd like to read more about these changes, check out the dedicated blog on this topic here.
Vegetation Update for Texas DLC
In collaboration with our vegetation department, our map designers have replaced the older pines with the more accurate loblolly pines native to Texas!
The loblolly pines were initially created for the Arkansas DLC but also naturally grow in Texas. To enhance realism and ensure a smoother transition when driving between these states, truckers will now encounter an abundance of these trees throughout the entire eastern part of Texas - along roads, in forests, and within towns.
We hope you will appreciate our teams' attention to detail, going back to previously released map expansions and updating them based on your feedback to correct any imperfections.
Custom City Intros for Oregon DLC
We are happy to share that we have now expanded Custom City Intros to the Oregon DLC for American Truck Simulator!
These special cutscenes appear when a player selects a starting city when creating a new profile. We hope that new players (or those restarting a new profile) will enjoy these new additions, showcasing the area where you have chosen to begin.
We hope you enjoy this addition, and we look forward to introducing it to more states in the future.
FlowBelow Update for Various Trucks
We've teamed up with FlowBelow to extend the possibilities of having the FlowBelow Tractor AeroKit™ installed on a number of trucks in American Truck Simulator. Players will now have the choice of having FlowBelow fairings and wheel covers on the following vehicles:
Kenworth T680
Peterbilt 579
Volvo VNL
Mack Anthem
Freightliner Cascadia
Western Star 5700XE and 57X
In the real world, the FlowBelow Tractor AeroKit™ delivers fuel savings for drivers on the road, and can be found installed on thousands of trucks across the United States. For players in American Truck Simulator, we're happy to bring this economical solution to your virtual fleet.
It also has the added benefit of minimizing turbulence and improving aerodynamics by surrounding the drive wheels to better manage the air that moves around the tractor while in motion.
We hope that you enjoy using FlowBelow on your future journeys in American Truck Simulator, be sure to share pictures of your newly installed kit on our official social media channels.
Truck Interior Shadows Improvement
We've also taken the time to create a more realistic visualisation of truck interior shadows through our new tool called Interior Shadow Tweaker.
It allows us to create simplified cage around the cabin of the truck blocking incoming light, thus improving realism of the lighting reflected in the interior of the cabin. No more washed out materials of interior when you are passing another truck, lamp or police beacons.
We hope you enjoy this small but notable improvement to your trucking experience!
1.51 Update: New Controller Config
We are enhancing the controller settings system, which will enable players to control the game with ease and offer them more flexibility and control. These changes will also pave the way for exciting future projects! Not only will you now be able to control more game features while using only your controller, but we also tried to set up the controls in a way that resembles driving a vehicle in real life which we hope will be natural and more immersive for you!
Although these changes will improve the controller settings and make it easier for players using controllers to engage with the game, there may be some cases where customized control settings could be affected. Unfortunately, players who have heavily modified their control layouts through the Steam controller configuration UI and shifted them from the default settings may see their custom configurations reset to default after the update.
The main change is the addition of a search bar for easier navigation across all settings categories. When a search is conducted, matches will be displayed in the current setting category, and sections where the search term also appears will be highlighted.
We have also reorganized the existing options in the settings for better clarity. These options are now divided into subcategories within each section. Additionally, two new categories, "Interface" and "Accessibility," have been added to the bottom menu for better distribution.
We've also introduced some changes that provide ease of access when it comes to changing the Desktop Background in ETS2 and ATS. You can now change your menu background directly using a shortcut from the main menu, or alternatively, you can access the same option via the interface section in your settings.
However, that's not all! We've now also made it possible to preview your backgrounds before changing them. Simply click on the background of your choice via the carousel, and you'll be presented with a short preview of how it would look, before confirming your selection.
Players will also be notified through a small widget on the main menu if they have received a new Desktop Background option as part of an event reward or update. Clicking on this will also direct you to the new settings which are implemented in this update.
As a bonus to better desktop background visualization, we've also added a new background named 'Black light studio', we hope that you like it! Be sure to check it out.
Automatic Differential Lock + Blind Spot Sensor
We're also happy to introduce the option to enable and disable the Blind Spot Sensor and Automatic Differential Lock.
The Automatic Differential Lock helps manage traction in difficult driving conditions by automatically engaging when needed. The Blind Spot Sensor provides visual and audible warnings to improve safety when changing lanes.
We hope you enjoy these features, which ultimately allows you to tailor your trucking simulation experience based on how you enjoy it!
Changelog
Map
I-44 update for the Oklahoma DLC
Vegetation update for the Texas DLC
Gameplay
Dynamic cargo (un)loading of grain hoppers
Automatic differential lock option
Automatic blind spot sensor option
Vehicles
FlowBelow update for various trucks
Mack Black Anthem added
UI
New Title Screen
Search bar added to the settings menu
Accessibility and Interface categories added to the settings menu
Improved changing of desktop background
New Controller Config
Visuals
Enhanced interior cabin shadows in the truck cabin
